Homeless man assaulted, robbed by two others

LA MESA  A homeless man was beaten and had his pants stolen in La Mesa on Sunday night, police said.

The victim was walking in the Best Buy parking lot on Fletcher Parkway near Jackson Drive about 9:30 p.m. when he was approached by two men, La Mesa police said.

One of the men punched the victim in the face and knocked him down and then both men hit him, police said. The thieves took his pants, wallet and a baseball cap and ran away. The victim went to a nearby fast-food restaurant and called police.

A 32-year-old man was arrested a few minutes later. He was wearing the homeless man's baseball cap and had his belt draped around his neck, police said. Officers also found the man's wallet behind a business.

The second man was described as Latino, about 21 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 165 pounds. His first name is Alex, police said. Both men are transients and were known by the victim, who was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call La Mesa police at (619) 667-1400 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.